Knifefish's suction makes water boil.

ABSTRACT: We discovered that knifefish (Apteronotus albifrons) during suction feeding can produce millimeter-sized cavitation bubbles and flow accelerations up to ~ 450 times the acceleration of gravity. Knifefish may use this powerful suction-induced cavitation to cause physical damage on prey hiding in narrow refuges, therefore facilitating capture.

SUBMITTER: Ortega-Jimenez VM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7596043 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature